AT the last of the Ceredigion meetings for this season Talsarn enjoyed a good day’s racing although the weather was variable, but it did nothing to detract from the afternoon’s entertainment.

There were two nursery races this week with the experienced horses coming to the front. In the first Janet Thomas from Tregroes driving her homebred Hyar Friction was first from Kamakazi (Hughes, Cwmbach) while Fold Take Flight (Miles Merthyr) was third. Oakwood Rocket (Layton, Brecon) was an easy winner in the second nursery from Talavary Zodiac (Thomas & Staples, Merthyr) with Cool Runner (Lloyd, in third.

In the first Novice heat Lady Lisleen for the Jones/Harris partnership from Merthyr claimed another victory under the guidance of Mark Evans from Brecon in second was The Chancer (Hitchcock & Jones, Haverfordwest) while Talavary Activator showed a good turn of foot for owner Martin Roberts from Dinmore. Turn the Paige with Janet Thomas driving for the Miles family from Merthyr took the second Novice heat from Howdya Likemenow (Perks, Presteigne) while Beg for Mercy (Tromans, Newcastle Emlyn) was third.

In the first heat of the Grade B it was the long time leader Ayr Ontario driven by Louisa Barton for the Weigel family from Llanddewi Velfrey, in second was the fast finishing Cool Ice (Gething, Ewyas Harold) while Made in Wales (Hawkes, Wigmore) was third. Lakeview Meg driven this week by her owner Linda Atherton Rees from Narberth won the second Grade B heat from long time leader The Bold Jack driven by his young owner Jonny James from Dorstone while Enter the Dragon (Harrison, Onibury) ran on well to be third.

Lakeside Pan the local favourite belonging to veteran supporter John Elder of New Quay and driven by his son Wayne took the first grade A heat from Habberley Playboy (Johns & Gittins, Shrewsbury) while the front running Camden Callen (Langford, Ystradgynlais) was third. In the second A heat Ayr Hero (Bevan, Llanddewi) driven by Mel Langford who just got the verdict in a close finish from Chinatown Kolt (Jones, Llanllwni) while Second Affair (Morgan, Rhymney) was third. In the first Baby Novice race Luminite (Atherton Rees, Narberth) and driven by Mathew Tromans from Newcastle Emlyn was first passed the post with the sometimes erratic Ithon J R (James, Dorstone) in second while Hilltop Recon (Lloyd New Radnor) was third. Dannys Gift (Perks, Presteigne) with Mark Evans in the seat led from the start to claim victory in the second Baby Novice race from Morning Breeze (Jones, Brecon) closely followed by Hyar Truly (Thomas, Tregroes).

Fronfelin Duchess (Hawkes, Wigmore) driven by Ollie Preece won the dash from Ayr Fella (Lloyd, Painscastle) and Rhyds Design (Weigel, Llanddewi Velfrey). In the saddle Hurricane Howard (Duggan, Llangullo) ridden by Mel Langford won from Habberley Haste (Lloyd New Radnor) and Brywins lucky Charm (Edwards, Pontsian).

The three finals completed the day’s racing with the Novice providing a blanket finish which needed the camera to award The Chancer (Hithccock & Jones, Haverfordwest) driven as usual by trainer Debbie Hitchcock, in second was Beg For Mercy (Tromans, Newcastle Emlyn) while Turn the Paige (Miles, Merthyr) was third. The grade B final saw Lakeview Meg driven by owner Linda Atherton Rees from Narberth repeat her heat win in front of the closing Made in Wales (Hawkes, Wigmore) and Enter the Dragon (Harrison, Onibury).

The Grade A final provided a fitting finale to the day as the talented Chinatown Kolt (Jones, Llanllwni) driven by trainer Debbie Hitchcock swept up the home straight to victory in front of Secret Affair (Morgan, Rhymney) while Ayr Hero (Bevan, Llanddewi) stuck his head out to claim third. One of the season’s highlights has been the setting up of the Lewis Lewis championship in memory of one of the ‘Cardi’ stalwarts of racing. It was for the horse or horses who had accumulated the most points in the four Ceredigion meetings, there were three winners who share the prize: Beg For Mercy (Tromans, Newcastle Emlyn); Cool Ice (Gething, Ewyas Harold) and Ayr Hero (Bevan, Llanddewi). So next weekend we return to Powys with the re-arranged Newbridge meeting which for this year will be held at the Cilmeri track near Builth on Saturday 18th August starting at 1.30pm.

Results: Nursery – race 1

1 Hyar Friction (Janet Thomas) owned & trained Thomas, Tregroes 2 Kamakazi 3 Fold take Flight Time: 2:22.28

Nursery – race 2

1 Oakwood Rocket (Derek Pritchard) owned Layton Brecon trained Pritchard Rhosgoch 2 Talavary Zodiac 3 Cool Runner Time: 2:16.18

Novice – heat 1

1 Lady Lisleen (Mark Evans) owned & trained Jones & Harris Merthyr 2 The Chancer 3 Talavary Activator Time: 2:11.72

Novice – heat 2

1 Turn the Paige (Janet Thomas) owned & trained Miles, Merthyr 2 Howdya likemenow 3 Beg for Mercy Time: 2:10.56

Grade B – heat 1

1 Ayr Ontario (Louisa Barton) owned & trained Weigel, Llanddewi Velfrey 2 Cool Ice 3 Made in Wales Time: 2:09.19

Grade B – heat 2

1 Lakeview Meg (Mathew Tromans) owned Atherton-Rees, Narberth trained Tromans, Newcastle Emlyn 2 The Bold Jack 3 Enter the Dargon Time: 2:08.87

Grade A – heat 1

1 Lakeside Pan (Wayne Elder) owned Elder Newquay trained Elder Blaencelyn 2 Habberley Playboy 3 Camden Callen Time: 2:08.50

Grade A – heat 2

1 Ayr Hero (Mel Langford) owned & trained Bevan Llanddewi 2 Chinatown Colt 3 Second affair Time: 2:09.00

Baby Novice – race 1

1 Luminite (Mathew Tromans) owned Atherton Rees, Narberth trained Tromans Newcastle Emlyn 2 Ithon JR 3 Hilltop Recon Time: 2:14.60

Baby Novice – race 2

1 Dannys Gift (Mark Evans) owned & trained Perks Presteigne 2 Morning Breeze 3 Hyar Truly Time: 2:15.06

Dash

1 Fronfelin Duchess (Ollie Preece) owned & trained Hawkes, Wigmore 2 Ayr Fella 3 Rhyds Design Time: 1:40.50

Saddle

1 Hurricane Howard (Mel Langford) owned & trained Duggan, Llangunllo 2 Habberley Haste 3 Brywins Lucky Charm Time: 2:14.84

Novice Final

1 The Chancer (Debbie Hitchcock) owned & trained Hitchcock & Jones Haverfordwest 2 Beg For Mercy 3 Turn the Paige Time: 2:12.93

Grade B final

1 Lakeview Meg (Mathew Tromans) owned Atherton Rees Narberth trained Tromans, Newcastle Emlyn 2 Made in Wales 3 Enter the Dragon Time: 2:09.25

Grade A Final

1 Chinatown Kolt (Debbie Hitchcock) owned Jones Llanllwni trained Hitchcock Haverfordwest 2 Second Affair 3 Ayr Hero Time: 2:09.50